Page 46 – The Pulse of Football

Jan

2026

Preview: Liam Rosenior takes Chelsea to Charlton for FA Cup tie in first test

It’s another brave new era for Chelsea, the third they’ve had since the current ownership took over in 2022, as Liam Rosenior takes charge of his first game as the new manager for their trip to Championship Charlton in the FA Cup.

By Alex Roberts

Winless in their last five games across all competition, Chelsea’s season is feeling like a write off already. Rosenior has a lot of things to address as the new manager, namely their ill-discipline, but a good FA Cup run and a trophy at the end of it will help win fans over.

Charlton’s form is only slightly better, without a win in their previous four games. The reality is that Chelsea are vulnerable at the moment, and Nathan Jones’ side have nothing to lose. We’ve seen this movie before…

A change in formation?

Over the past year or so, Enzo Maresca became a lot more tactically flexible than many thought he was. Despite that, he stuck with a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout his time at the club, and it was largely successful.

Rosenior comes into the club as a ‘head coach’ that isn’t afraid to try new things, during his time at Strasbourg, they lined up in a back three with the two wingbacks providing the width and two wingers/wide tens supporting a lone striker.

Coming in mid-season and going full Ruben Amorim with a side that aren’t really built to play a back three may not be the move, but until we see those sides line-up on the day, we can’t say for certain it won’t happen.

Never fall in love with a loan player

It’s unfortunately something that happens far too often at Championship sides. Someone comes in looking for more minutes, tears it up, but when the time comes, they leave and the whole cycle starts again.

That’s what’s happening with James Bree at Charlton. It’s not been a great season for the South London side, but after coming up to the Championship from League 1 last summer to now be in 19^th, it’s to be expected.

James Bree, on loan from Southampton, has helped elevate the squad since joining. A very solid Championship player, he’s already bagged two goals and got three assists in the league and can certainly do some damage to Chelsea.

Team news

Expect Rosenior to want to get a good look at all the players he has at his disposal. There will be rotation, mass substitutions, this is honestly the perfect game for him to come in and get a feel for things before taking charge in the Premier League.

Roméo Lavia (thigh) and Dário Essugo (thigh) are close to returning from their lengthy injuries, but this game is still likely a little too soon for either of them to see any action. Marc Cucurella will serve his one-game ban for his red card in the defeat to Fulham.

Malo Gusto (physical discomfort) and Andrey Santos (knock) are both doubts for this one too, with Levi Colwill (ACL) still nowhere close to returning. It would be a genuine miracle if we saw him in the squad today.

Charlton duo Kayne Ramsay and Onel Hernández are both ruled out with hamstring injuries, while Josh Edwards (ankle) and Matty Godden (knee) are also out.

Prediction

We’re not expecting fireworks for Rosenior’s first game, he’ll probably play it somewhat safe. So we’re going with a 2-1 win for the Premier League side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the FA Cup with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Spurs meet Villa in all-Premier League FA Cup tie

Storm clouds may be gathering over The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening when Spurs take on Aston Villa in the FA Cup Third Round.

By Ian King

Time is definitely running out for Thomas Frank at Spurs

The performance was better in places, but the result still ended up the same. Spurs’ 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth on Wednesday night may have only been decided by a stoppage-time winner scored by The Narrative’s Antoine Semenyo, but losing again has only pushed head coach Thomas Frank’s feet a little closer to the fire at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

All of this makes it feel like a bad time for his team to be taking on Aston Villa, a team who remain on the fringes of the Premier League title race, despite having dropped five points in their last three matches following their goalless draw against Crystal Palace at the same time as Spurs were chucking a point away on the Dorset coast. Villa may have wobbled a little since the start of 2026, but there are no pitchforks currently being sharpened around Villa Park.

Aston Villa beat Spurs three times in 2025

We’ve all been here before, of course. These two teams met at Villa Park on the 9th February last year in the Fourth Round of this very competition, with Villa winning 2-1, the first of three consecutive wins they managed over Spurs during 2025.

Spurs fans looking for a positive omen might wish to console themselves with the fact that their team have beaten Aston Villa on their way to winning the FA Cup no fewer than four times, having done so in 1921, 1961, 1962 and 1982.

Cristian Romero’s leadership has been one of Spurs’ few strengths over the last couple of months

Few Spurs players have emerged from the last couple of months with much credit in the bank, but one of those who has is captain Cristian Romero, whose strong performances – although undermined a little by yet another sending-off, this time against Liverpool – has been the nearest thing that the team have had to leadership this season.

Prior to their goalless draw against Palace, Aston Villa’s man in form had been Ollie Watkins, with four goals in his previous three matches, a figure all the more impressive considering that two of those matches came against Chelsea and Arsenal. If Watkins can maintain this sort of form, his passage into the England squad for this summer’s World Cup starts to look considerably smoother.

Expect changes from both Frank and Emery from their midweek Premier League XIs

There are no fresh injury concerns for Spurs ahead of this match, although there are no players due to return, either. James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski all remain injured, while Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr remain on AFCON duty. Brennan Johnson, meanwhile, has left the building for Crystal Palace.

Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana are both confirmed as sidelined for Aston Villa, while Evan Guessand is AFCON duty. Villa could welcome back Pau Torres and Tyrone Mings from injury, though they’ll be subject to fitness tests.

Of course, with this being an FA Cup match, there’s a strong possibility that both Thomas Frank and Unai Emery will make substantial changes from the teams that played in their midweek Premier League matches.

Thomas Frank might be about to find out how much the FA Cup means to Spurs fans

This is a match which should mean something to both clubs. The 1996 League Cup remains Aston Villa’s last major trophy, and for all the progress they’ve made under Emery, winning some actual silverware would be the club’s next step up in terms of their growth.

Villa have a proud history in the FA Cup, having won it seven times. But the last of those wins came almost 70 years ago, in 1957. Winning it this year would also be a tangible milestone of their recent revival.

Thomas Frank would do well to pay close attention to how much winning the Europa League meant to Spurs fans last year. With eight wins, the FA Cup means a lot to this club too, and with unhappiness growing at his team’s shortcomings, he’d be fooling himself if he considers this a free swing and nothing else. A groundswell against him is growing, and he’s rapidly running out of runway.

But none of this really impacts upon what’s likely to happen on the pitch. The simple fact is that Aston Villa have a better team than Spurs at the moment and that, even allowing for a marginally improved performance at Bournemouth and the likelihood of substantial team changes from both managers, it’s difficult to see Spurs turning up for this match with their deficiencies resolved and ready to take on and beat a stronger team.

So I’m going for a 2-0 Aston Villa win, and for there to be little let-up of the current levels of grumpiness currently circling around N17.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the FA Cup with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Man City aim to avoid FA Cup shock against Exeter City

Manchester City welcome League One side Exeter City to the Etihad in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon.

By Ross Kilvington

The third round of the oldest national football competition in the world used to be one of the best weekends in the footballing calendar. Sadly, the magic of the cup has dwindled over the years.

Nevertheless, Exeter will be dreaming of taking a massive scalp as Pep Guardiola’s men look to claim their first victory of 2026.

Man City have hit a roadblock

The final few weeks of 2025 saw City at their imperious best, winning eight successive matches in all competitions.

This year, however, the club have drawn all three matches they have played, failing to beat Sunderland, Chelsea or Brighton in the Premier League.

*For more graphics like this, follow @fotmobapp on Instagram*

Despite all of his success in Manchester, Guardiola has lifted the FA Cup on just two occasions and will be eyeing the famous old trophy once again.

City have lost just once to lower league opposition in this competition under the Spaniard and that came in his second season. Since that 1-0 loss to League One side Wigan in 2017/18, the club have reached at least the semi-finals in every edition.

While that was a shock, a defeat against Exeter this weekend would surely go down as the biggest surprise of his reign at the club.

Can Exeter City pull off a major surprise?

The simple answer would appear to be no. This is the FA Cup, however, a competition which is famed for the heroics of lower league clubs against top flight opposition.

The Grecians have won just four games since October 23 and currently sit 14^th in League One, although they defeated Halifax Town and Wycombe Wanderers without conceding a goal to reach this stage.

Jayden Wareham is their top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions so far this season and if Exeter are to pull off an almighty shock at the Etihad, they will be relying heavily on the 22-year-old striker.

Team news

Guardiola will be missing several of his first team players for the tie. Indeed, John Stones, Mateo Kovačić, Oscar Bobb, Savinho, Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol are all absent due to injury issues.

Elsewhere, Rayan Aït-Nouri and Omar Marmoush are still on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.

Johnly Yfeko, Josh Magennis, Ryan Rydel and Danny Andrew will be missing for the away side for the trip to Manchester.

Both Pierce Sweeney and Jake Doyle-Hayes will be looking to return to the starting XI after they both dropped to the bench last time out.

Prediction

Remarkably, City have won their last 19 FA Cup matches against clubs outside of the Premier League, scoring 72 goals in the process.

While the club may have hit a stumbling block recently, a big win against Exeter will surely bolster their confidence heading into the next few weeks.

As such, expect the home side to dominate proceedings and stroll through to the next round with ease: Manchester City 4-0 Exeter City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow all the games from the FA Cup on FotMob in the 2025/26 season – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

John McGinn is the life and soul of Villa success story

Aston Villa are exceeding all expectations this season and John McGinn is a driving force for Unai Emery’s team in the centre of the pitch.

By Graham Ruthven

John McGinn still had a lot of work to do as Nottingham Forest goalkeeper John Victor rushed off his line, but the Scottish midfielder is known for his hard work. Not far into the opposition half, McGinn bent a long-range finish into the back of the net to secure an important win for Aston Villa. He’s known for impacting games too.

Villa’s sensational form has caught the imagination this season. While Unai Emery’s team were brought back to earth with a 4-1 loss to Arsenal after winning 11 matches in a row and will probably fall short of winning the Premier League title, their resurgence has been remarkable and McGinn has been a key part of it.

The 31-year-old is the beating heart of Aston Villa. Always among the hardest workers on the pitch, McGinn sets the tone for everyone around him. He leads by example and wears the captain’s armband as proof of his natural leadership ability. And yet McGinn somehow still doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

*McGinn’s defensive numbers in the Premier League this season*

McGinn’s game is about much more than hard running and tough tackling. As his recent performance against Nottingham Forest showed, the Scotland international is capable of taking grip of a game through his technicality and eye for goal. Aston Villa are lucky to have him.

Part of why McGinn is widely underrated might be due to the position he plays for Villa. Indeed, the role Emery asks his captain to perform doesn’t exist on most other teams with McGinn used in a hybrid right wing-central midfield role. In this position, McGinn has the freedom to get forward while also keeping him as part of the central unit.

No Aston Villa player has created more chances this season than McGinn. Only Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans are ranked ahead of the Scottish midfielder for Expected Assists (xA). McGinn is also Villa’s most effective presser, winning possession in the final third more often than any of his teammates.

There are more eye-catching players in the Villa squad. Rogers can decide a game at any moment having scored seven league games this season. The England international is playing at such a high level right now that he might start ahead of Phil Foden and Cole Palmer for England at the 2026 World Cup.

Tielemans has grown in influence over the course of the campaign after being pushed into a more advanced role. Behind the Belgian, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana have given Aston Villa a solid midfield base to build from while Ollie Watkins has rediscovered his scoring again recently, netting in three of his last four games.

McGinn, though, is an all-rounder who embodies everything that has made Emery’s Villa such a special team over the last few seasons. If the Villa Park side are to finish near the top of the Premier League table, as is very much on the cards, their captain will have played an important part.

Last summer was a challenging one for Aston Villa and McGinn could have left. The 31-year-old was linked with a number of potential suitors as the Villa Park outfit faced something of a crossroads. Cashing in on McGinn might have helped them navigate the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

“I had no thoughts really about leaving,” said McGinn. “It was a little bit of a confidence booster for me, at my age, that teams would be interested, but I think most clubs around the country were aware that we had to be in a selling position this summer, so no one was safe from that.”

Ultimately, McGinn stayed and Aston Villa are surely grateful for that considering his recent impact. He still has so much more to offer and will have a platform to show it at the highest level of the international game for Scotland at the World Cup this summer. McGinn is just as important to his country as he is to his club.

McGinn’s unusual running style and stocky build might explain why so many overlook him as one of the best, most effective midfielders in the Premier League. There is nobody better at shielding a ball or backing into an opponent to win a foul. His backside might be the most powerful in European football.

Maybe it’s McGinn’s reputation as a joker that means some don’t take him as seriously as they should. Whenever there’s a joke to be made in the Aston Villa dressing room, McGinn is usually the one cracking it. He’s also reliable as a match-winner and a difference-maker. He’s the full package and it’s about time that was more widely acknowledged.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Aston Villa game on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage, including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Can Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe save West Ham’s season?

Six years ago, West Ham United found themselves on the brink of disaster. Having lost seven of their previous 10 matches, the Hammers had descended into the Premier League’s relegation zone. Desperate for a solution, they completed two signings in January’s final days, with Jarrod Bowen and Tomáš Souček arriving for a combined £41 million.

By Zach Lowy

The rest, as they say, is history: Souček helped shore up their porous midfield, Bowen delivered a consistent source of goals, and together, the duo transformed West Ham’s fortunes for the better. After narrowly avoiding the drop, they achieved back-to-back European qualifications before reaching the promised land with the 2022/23 UEFA Europa Conference League title, their first major trophy in 43 years.

Since that miraculous night in Prague, West Ham’s magical carriage has dilapidated into a pumpkin, finishing ninth in 2023/24 and 14th in 2024/25. Having parted ways with David Moyes in 2024, the East London side have since gone through Julen Lopetegui (22 games in charge), Graham Potter (25), and now, Nuno Espírito Santo (16). Santo’s position is becoming increasingly tenuous after a dreadful run that has seen West Ham lose five of its last six, the nadir coming in a 3-0 demolition at previously winless Wolves. Once again, West Ham find themselves in danger of going down, and once again, they’ve splurged on two January arrivals in order to ameliorate their fortunes. They’ve acquired Taty Castellanos from Lazio for an initial £26m, whilst they’ve also added Pablo Felipe from Gil Vicente for an initial £21.8m. Together, they’ll be looking to revitalize a West Ham attack that has failed to get the job done this season.

Born in Braga to former Porto player Pena, Pablo moved to his father’s homeland of Brazil and underwent an unsuccessful trial at Fluminense before returning to Portugal and ascending through the Famalicão academy. He registered four goals in 38 appearances before dropping to the Portuguese second tier, scoring once in 15 for Paços de Ferreira, followed by another loan to top-flight outfit Gil Vicente. Despite scoring just five times in 23 matches (three coming vs. Boavista), he convinced Gil to sign him on a permanent deal after going from their third-choice striker to their starter. Their intuition was proven correct; Pablo skyrocketed to the upper echelon of Liga Portugal’s strikers, racking up 10 goals in 14 appearances and spearheading the Roosters to the league’s top four, before making the move to England.

“Pablo must be the Gil Vicente player with the fastest and most remarkable evolution that I’ve ever witnessed,” stated @GilVicenteInfo. “He fit perfectly into César Peixoto’s system, assisting the team defensively with his pressing, whilst offensively, he enjoyed a massive improvement, especially in his shooting. Pablo has converted almost every opportunity he’s had, whether with his right foot, left foot, or head, and he’s stood out for his physical power and ability to play with his back to goal. He’s strong in associative play, often dropping deep or wide to create passing options, and his short strides and quick dribbles enable him to get past defenders and score goals.

He’s one of the best strikers to have ever played in Barcelos, even though he’s only had half a season with amazing numbers, and if he can continue developing, he can establish himself in the Premier League. However, I doubt that will happen now, because he needs time and patience to adapt, and at West Ham, and he won’t have the time, much less the patience, to develop – they need him to deliver immediately. It seems like a panic buy.”

*Pablo’s shot map in the Liga Portugal this season*

Whilst Pablo (22) has spent the entirety of his professional career in Portugal, Castellanos (27) grew up in Argentina and commenced his career in Chile and Uruguay before heading north and becoming New York City FC’s attacking talisman. Castellanos won the 2021 MLS Golden Boot with 19 goals and 8 assists, leading NYCFC to their maiden MLS Cup, before taking his talents to Spain and racking up 14 goals in 37 appearances for Girona (four of those goals coming vs. Real Madrid). This earned him a transfer to Lazio, where he showed plenty of promise but ultimately failed to cement himself as the heir to Ciro Immobile’s throne, scoring 22 goals and 16 assists in 98 matches in Italy.

*Caetellanos’ career summary since his breakout season at NYCFC*

“Taty Castellanos struggled mightily as a winger before becoming the default striker after our main No. 9 injured his knee,” stated NYCFC play-by-play announcer Glen Crooks. “Castellanos learned to be a striker, and he’s a success story as to how NYCFC morphed into the initiative of signing U22 players, developing them, selling them, and then building again. However, Castellanos needs a supporting cast around him…he’s not a guy who will entirely carry a team by himself. Back in 2021, nine of his 19 goals were assisted by Maximiliano Moralez. He can elevate his teammates in terms of what they’re capable of doing in front of goal, but there needs to be things happening around him. He’s not a one-man band, but his work ethic and what he does on the defensive side of the ball are almost as vital as what he does in the attacking framework.”

Whereas Castellanos was immediately thrust into the starting line-up on Tuesday, Pablo replaced Lucas Paquetá for the final half-hour and was shoehorned into an unnatural second striker role in their 2-1 defeat vs. Nottingham Forest. And whilst Pablo is enjoying an impeccable start to the campaign, Castellanos has scored in just two of his last 18 matches. Both are risky gambles for West Ham, who sit seven points away from safety, and who have not won a single match since November 8. If they fail to beat QPR in Sunday’s FA Cup fixture, then Santo could very well be West Ham’s fourth managerial casualty in 20 months.

Can Pablo Felipe buck the recent trend of strikers who have struggled to adapt from Liga Portugal to the Premier League? Can Taty Castellanos shake off his recent woes in front of goal? West Ham will be certainly hoping so as they look to mastermind yet another escape from relegation and avoid dropping down to the Championship for the first time in 15 years.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every West Ham United game with FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Can Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe Save West Ham’s Season

Jan

2026

The curious case of Harvey Elliott, a player in limbo

During the summer transfer window, Harvey Elliott was a player in demand. The creative forward had claimed the Player of the Tournament award at the 2025 U21 Euros having helped England retain their crown.

By Sam McGuire

Elliott netted in the quarter-final win over Spain, was the match-winner against the Netherlands in the semi-final and scored the opener against Germany in the final.

Having struggled to convince Arne Slot that he was an option for Liverpool during their title success last term, a move away from Anfield appeared to be a formality. Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, RB Leipzig and Fulham were all linked with the 22-year-old. On deadline day, though, a move to Aston Villa materialised out of nowhere. It was an initial loan move with an obligation to buy for £35million if the versatile midfielder appeared in a set number of matches, reported to be 10.

At a glance, it seemed like a bargain buy for Unai Emery’s side. Elliott, despite his tender years, was closing in on 100 Premier League appearances for Liverpool. He had experience in the Champions League and could play a variety of positions. For context, Nick Woltemade finished as the top scorer at the U21 Euros and he moved to Newcastle for an initial £65million.

Villa had the opportunity to sign the best player at the tournament for half the price.

Yet here we are in January and Elliott finds himself in purgatory.

He’s featured in just four Premier League matches for Villa this term and has a grand total of 97 minutes to his name since the switch to Villa Park. Emery has made it clear. He doesn’t intend to make Elliott’s move a permanent one meaning he can’t play the England Under-21 international so as to avoid paying the £35million fee.

The Villa boss acknowledged this at the start of the year.

“The problem we have with Harvey is that this year he is on loan, and in case he plays matches we must buy him,” said Emery. “We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to sign him.

“This is the only issue. He is training every day, always every day with very good behaviour and to help us in training sessions. This is not something good for him and good for us, but this is football and sometimes we must take some decisions which are not good for everyone.”

According to reports, Villa can’t cut short the loan without having to pay a fee to Liverpool. To further complicate matters, having already played for two clubs this season, Elliott can’t move to another European club this month. He can, however, move to MLS, with Charlotte FC allegedly keen on the left-footer. Elliott, though, isn’t wanting to move to the States at this stage of his career.

At a glance, his options are limited. When asked about Elliott ahead of the Arsenal match, Slot distanced himself from the player, saying: “He’s an Aston Villa player. So if you want to ask things about an Aston Villa player, you should ask Unai Emery.”

Villa don’t want him. Liverpool, seemingly, don’t want him back.

But the reigning champions could do with him right now. The Reds are struggling despite currently being on an eight-match unbeaten run in the Premier League. However, this has been made up of four wins and four draws. Slot’s side have dropped points against Leeds (twice), Sunderland and Fulham while narrowly beating the likes of Spurs, West Ham, Brighton and Wolves during this period.

Liverpool need a spark in attack, despite spending near £300million on attackers during the summer. Alexander Isak moved for £125million, Florian Wirtz cost £100million and Hugo Ekitike cost an initial £69million. Isak is out with a broken leg, Wirtz has just two league goals to his name and Ekitike is now struggling for fitness having played a lot of football due to the absence of the No. 9. Cody Gakpo has just returned from injury while Mohamed Salah is away at AFCON and there are still question marks over his future with the club following his blockbuster interview following the draw with Leeds.

At the time of writing, the Reds rank eighth for Expected Goals in the English top-flight. We’re 20 games into the season and Slot’s side have a goal difference of plus four. Whatever the reason for it, the Reds are struggling in the final third. The bench looks deprived of attacking talent and Elliott could well play a key role in getting this team into the Champions League next term.

Last season, in limited minutes, he had an xG per 90 average of 0.44 and an Expected Assists average of 0.16. He was creating 2.5 chances per 90 too in the Premier League. Liverpool are struggling against low blocks, why not look to give Elliott, someone who is brilliant technically and has the vision to spot a pass, the opportunity to pull some strings for the new signings?

A return to Liverpool suits everyone right now. Elliott gets more opportunities to play football ahead of a permanent move away in the summer. Villa free up a space in their squad and avoid having to sign a player they don’t want. And the Reds add depth to their team.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Liverpool game with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Cameroon have become the team to watch at AFCON

Despite facing all sorts of drama in the build-up and changing coaches just weeks before the tournament, Cameroon have shown themselves to be one of the most exciting teams at AFCON.

By Neel Shelat

With less than a week to go before the start of the tournament, Cameroon seemed to be in chaos. They had submitted two different squad lists for the Africa Cup of Nations. One of them came from Marc Brys, the coach who had been dismissed by the FA just weeks prior, though he did not view the termination of his contract as legitimate. The other was from newly-appointed coach David Pagou, and featured notable omissions including André Onana as well as all-time second top-scorer Vincent Aboubakar.

Of course, it was the FA that won out eventually, but these events certainly did not serve as ideal preparation for the tournament. Having been drawn into a tough group alongside the defending champions Ivory Coast, many feared that the five-time champions might even face an early exit.

The Indomitable Lions proved the doubters wrong by coasting through the group with two wins and a draw before going on to knock a strong South Africa side out of the Round of 16, all while playing some entertaining football. As they gear up to take on hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals on Friday, one could argue that the tournament has already been a success for them.

A youthful core

Regardless of how much further Cameroon go in this tournament, they should definitely be pleased with how their youngsters have performed. They have the lowest average age based on minutes played in the tournament, having started at least five players aged under 23 in all but one game.

*Cameroon’s starting XI vs. South Africa*

Even at just 22 years of age, Carlos Baleba was one of the standout names in the Indomitable Lions squad going into his first AFCON. His qualities have been put to excellent use in Pagou’s new system, in which he is instructed to stay deep in midfield. His exceptional ground coverage and duel-winning make him a great shield for the centre-backs, and he has also shown some lovely forward passing when given more time and space. By all accounts, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder is set to be a key figure in his national team for years to come.

Closest to him tends to be Arthur Avom, who currently plies his trade in Ligue 1. The 21-year-old midfielder has more of a license to move up and down to connect play through the middle, so his link-up play and ball carrying have stood out more. The Lorient youngster also gets around a good deal defensively and does not mind getting stuck into challenges, so he forms a great partnership with Baleba.

*Avom’s player traits, based on performances in Ligue 1*

Samuel Kotto has looked solid at the heart of the defence while Junior Tchamadeu has worked hard to get up and down the right flank, but the revelation of the tournament has to be Christian Kofane. The teenage striker’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric; he hadn’t even made his senior debut this time last year!

After standing out for Spanish second division side Albacete in the second half of last season, Kofane earned a headline-making move to Bayer Leverkusen last summer. An injury to their lead striker presented him with a golden opportunity to get a string of starts, and he made the most out of it. The 19-year-old forward already has five goals and a couple of assists for his new club, earning him a ticket to Morocco ahead of veterans such as Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.

Getting in the squad was impressive enough, but that was only the start of Kofane’s AFCON story. Although he was kept on the bench for the opener, he put together some impressive performances in the subsequent group games to get a start in the Round of 16. He repaid the coach’s faith by scoring the crucial second goal, besides doing a great job of leading the attacking line with his clever movement.

*Kofane’s shot map at his first major tournament*

An open tactical setup

Besides the young talent in the squad, Cameroon have been a great team to watch at this AFCON because of their style of play. Despite being thrust into the job with just days to go before the tournament, Pagou has devised and implemented a new tactical setup that is currently getting the best out of the players.

The Indomitable Lions used to favour a back four under their previous head coach, but have switched to a back three in Morocco. Their formation has been described as either a 3-5-1-1 or a 3-4-2-1, but the ideas behind it have remained similar in either case.

The trio of centre-backs offer good solidity at the back, with captain Nouhou Tolo on the left also enjoying some freedom to help progress the ball as well. Ahead of Baleba and Avom, Danny Namaso has proven to be a handy attacking midfielder with his ability to find space and receive the ball in pockets high up the pitch. The wing backs protect the flanks defensively while also going up to add width to the attack, allowing Bryan Mbeumo to drift inside and operate in the areas opened up by Kofane’s movement.

Cameroon have tended to make their games quite open with this setup, trusting the central midfielders to cover a lot of ground. They often step up to press their opponents and look to pose a direct threat if they manage to turn the ball over. They generally like to attack with speed as well, moving the ball forward quickly and looking to release the forwards into space.

While this approach is quite entertaining, it does leave Pagou’s side largely unable to control games. So, as they prepare for a big clash against one of the outright tournament favourites in Morocco, Cameroon will have to hope that their opponents are not able to stamp their authority too much and embrace the chaos instead.

(Images via IMAGO)

You can follow the Africa Cup of Nations on FotMob – with deep stats and players ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: Atletico meet Real in Supercopa Madrid Derby

Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid’s rivalry heads to Saudi Arabia, with the two sides going head-to-head in Jeddah for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final, with the winner going on to face Barcelona in the final.

By Matt Smith

Diego Simeone will be hoping for a repeat of the last meeting between the two teams, which saw Atlético secure a 5-2 win in LaLiga back in September.

Neutrals will be hoping for a repeat of the last meeting in this competition, where an eight-goal thriller was played out, with Real Madrid securing a 5-3 victory back in 2024.

Team news

Atlético will be without both Clément Lenglet and Nicolás González for this one, while Pablo Barrios is a doubt after he was substituted due to injury last time out.

As for Madrid, Kylian Mbappé remains on the treatment table, while Éder Militão is also out. Brahim Díaz is currently enjoying himself and leads the race for the golden boot at the African Cup of Nations with Morocco, but Trent Alexander-Arnold could return, as he’s been named in the squad following his injury.

Simeone’s defensive solidity continues

No team in LaLiga has conceded fewer goals per 90 minutes than Atlético Madrid (including Real Madrid) this season, Simeone will be hoping for a little more in terms of attacking output ahead of the second half of the season, but he’ll have minimal complaints with his side defensively.

Atlético are preparing to face one of the best attacking sides in Europe in this clash, but they more than held their own in the last meeting. It’s been an impressive few months for Simeone’s side, losing just twice since 21st October.

Real Madrid bouncing back

It’s safe to say it’s not been a perfect season for Madrid, particularly in LaLiga where they sit four points behind Barcelona. Xabi Alonso’s side have started to turn a corner in recent weeks, winning four games on the bounce in all competitions.

The loss of Mbappé was expected to hurt Madrid, considering the phenomenal impact he’s made this season in terms of goal contributions, but it certainly didn’t seem that way last time out. Madrid secured a comfortable 5-1 victory over Real Betis, with Mbappé’s replacement stealing the headlines…

Garcia steps into Mbappé’s shoes

Many Real Madrid supporters will have been worried when it was confirmed that Mbappé was going to be on the sidelines this month, but his replacement has slotted in seamlessly. Gonzalo García made just his second league start of the season last time out, and Alonso couldn’t have asked for more.

The 21-year-old his a hat-trick in Mbappé’s place, helping Madrid secure a 5-1 victory. You’d imagine he’s done enough to keep his place in the starting XI, and he’ll be hoping to put his name up in lights once again.

Prediction

It’s a difficult game to predict, with local rivalry games often throwing up surprises. Despite García’s impact last time out, it could be tough for Alonso’s men without Mbappé. We’re going for a 2-1 win to Atlético.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Spanish Supercopa with FotMob this week — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

Preview: League leaders Arsenal host defending champions Liverpool

Arsenal’s first home match of 2026 sees them welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

By Neel Shelat

Arsenal hoping to continue stellar home form in 2026

Arsenal’s comprehensive win over Aston Villa last week extended their mightily impressive record at the Emirates Stadium to 14 wins, two draws, and zero losses since May 2025. The Gunners have now picked up 28 out of a possible 30 points at home in the Premier League this term.

Including their penalty shootout victory over Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, Mikel Arteta’s side have emerged victorious after all seven matches in the last four weeks, showcasing great consistency through the busiest period of the season.

Liverpool enduring another slump

Although Liverpool are currently on a nine-match unbeaten run, they’re definitely not heading into this game in the best of shape. The dramatic conclusion at Craven Cottage on the weekend made it two consecutive draws for the Reds, leaving them with just four wins since the start of December.

The lack of attacking endeavour displayed by Arne Slot’s side has become a real source of frustration for fans in recent weeks, but their defence has also been far from solid.

Worse yet, the Dutch coach’s task is being further complicated by a number of key absences.

Team news

Arsenal are almost back to full strength after dealing with long injury lists for the last couple of months. Their only expected absences are Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori in defence, as well as teenage midfielder Max Dowman.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are particularly depleted in the attacking department. Hugo Ekitike’s minor hamstring issue left them without a recognised striker in the last game, with Alexander Isak set to be out for a few months following his leg fracture against Tottenham. The Frenchman is a major doubt for this match as well, while Mohamed Salah remains unavailable as his Egypt side have advanced to the AFCON quarter-finals.

The Reds’ lack of depth at centre-back has been a concern all season, and they will once again have to rely on Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk to see out the full 90 as Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo remain out.

Key players

Gabriel will fancy his chances of scoring in a third consecutive match since Liverpool’s record of 13 goals conceded from set-pieces is the joint-worst in the league. No team has scored more than Arsenal’s 12 goals from such situations, so Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice’s deliveries could prove just as crucial as their contributions from open play.

Alisson will surely be tested between the sticks, but Liverpool will be keen to pose an attacking threat themselves. Florian Wirtz has been on the scoresheet in three of their last four matches, while Arsenal will certainly also be aware of Dominik Szoboszlai’s threat after his stunning strike in the reverse fixture.

Prediction

Arsenal should have enough quality to largely control proceedings, keep a clean sheet and win by a one or two goal margin.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2026

AFCON 2025 Quarter-Finals Preview: Cameroon vs. Morocco headlines four blockbuster clashes

All the favourites have advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in what is a pretty rare occurrence at the tournament. As a result, we will be treated to some huge fixtures from here on in.

By Neel Shelat

🇲🇱 Mali vs Senegal 🇸🇳

Mali are the only team standing that remain winless, having drawn all four games en route to the quarter-final! They might well have to repeat the trick in Tangier, where they will take on a Senegal side that has not tasted defeat in their last 26 competitive matches.

The Lions of Teranga are unbeaten in 15 AFCON fixtures and will be the favourites in this one, but their Round of 16 showing against Sudan was not entirely convincing. They conceded early on and did not really dominate until after scoring the equaliser, still continuing to give up a couple of presentable chances. Their superior quality both in the XI and off the bench comfortably got them over the line in the end, but a better defensive unit would likely have given them a much tougher time.

Tom Saintfelt’s side will surely feel they are capable of doing just that after their hard-fought win over Tunisia in the Round of 16. The Eagles were reduced to ten in under half an hour, but gave up very few noteworthy chances in the subsequent 90+ minutes. They even managed to score a last-gasp equaliser after conceding what seemed to be a late losing goal, going on to complete a comeback victory in the penalty shoot-out.

Tunisia’s lack of creativity did make the task easier for Mali, but they can also take some encouragement from their 1-1 draw with Morocco in the group stage. Saintfelt has certainly made his game plan of crowding out the midfield clear in both games, so the onus will be on Senegal to find a way to break through without getting hit too hard on the counter.

🇨🇲 Cameroon vs Morocco 🇲🇦

The hosts feature in what promises to be the most exciting match of the round, though Cameroon’s presence is just as big a factor.

The Indomitable Lions might well have been bracing for a disappointing tournament after a lot of off-field drama in the lead-up, but they have instead already made it something of a success. New head coach David Pagou has fielded the youngest side in the tournament based on average age, with the likes of Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba and teenage striker Christian Kofane playing starring roles.

Perhaps partly as a result of their youthfulness, Cameroon have also arguably been the most exciting team to watch at the tournament. Their games have tended to be quite open and end-to-end, enabling them to pose a good attacking threat but also leaving them exposed at the back.

Morocco will be keen to capitalise on this by putting their forward in the right positions to make a telling impact. Brahim Díaz has been the star of the show, having scored in all four matches so far in his debut AFCON campaign.

The return of Achraf Hakimi further bolsters the Atlas Lions’ right flank in the knockouts, so Cameroonian captain Nouhou Tolo is sure to have a tough time on the left of their back three.

The role of the crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium will be interesting to observe once again. Morocco were perhaps a bit overawed by the occasion as they got off to a bad start against Tanzania in the last game, but they soon managed to establish control and expertly saw out the win after breaking through. A stronger opponent like Cameroon could well profit from a nervous atmosphere.

🇩🇿 Algeria vs Nigeria 🇳🇬

Nigeria strengthened their case for being the best team at AFCON 2025 so far with a commanding 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16. The only blemish in an otherwise spotless performance was an on-field argument that star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman seemed to have, though that only seems to have been a momentary issue in the heat of battle.

Both of them – and indeed the rest of the attack – have been in fine form throughout the tournament as the Super Eagles lead the scoring charts with 12 goals. Lookman alone has played a part in over half of those as he makes a serious case for player of the tournament.

Éric Chelle’s side have looked quite well-balanced on the whole, with Alex Iwobi proving to be a particularly important figure thanks to his passing from midfield. They are sure to face their toughest examination now, though, as they come up against the only other team to have won every match so far.

Algeria’s strength lies in their defence; they are the only team apart from the hosts to have conceded just one goal. They also have the lowest xG conceded tally among all participants despite spending around 500 minutes on the pitch, having gone to extra time against DR Congo.

The Fennecs’ attack has had a tougher time against the more stubborn defences, but they can count on their strength in depth to make the difference. Extra time substitute Adil Boulbina scored a stunning winner last time around, while Anis Hadj Moussa also looked lively after taking the place of Riyad Mahrez. Key midfielder Ismaël Bennacer picked up an injury in that match, so that might be Vladimir Petković’s biggest concern ahead of the quarter-final.

Regardless, a close contest promises to be in the offing in Marrakesh.

🇪🇬 Egypt vs Ivory Coast 🇨🇮

Arguably the biggest match of all on paper sees record champions Egypt face the current title holders from the Ivory Coast.

It would be fair to say that the last edition’s hosts have produced the more convincing performances so far in the tournament. Emerse Faé’s side can certainly take a lot of encouragement from their comfortable 3-0 win against a tricky Burkina Faso in the last round, in which Amad starred with a goal and assist. Yan Diomande also continued to impress on the other wing, so Egypt will certainly have to work hard to come up with a plan to contain those two.

The Pharaohs tend to adopt a more counterattacking approach in such big games, so they will once again rely on the quality of Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush to make the difference. However, they can struggle to take charge and impose themselves on games, as demonstrated by their close Round of 16 tie against Benin.

*Egypt needed extra-time to take the game away from Benin*

The Ivory Coast can expect to be allowed to keep a good deal of possession, so their midfielders could well hold the key in deciding which way the match swings. Teenager Christ Inao Oulai kept his place in the lineup against Burkina Faso thanks to his secure ball progression, providing good balance alongside Franck Kessié’s final third threat and Ibrahim Sangaré’s defensive solidity. Egypt may well have a tough time if that trio are on their A game.

(Images via IMAGO)

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